Greek culture news and views

As the cradle of western civilization Greece has probably done the most for western culture. Today's Greece is packed with museums, monuments and archaeological sites. With so much history it is no wonder that Greek museums are among the best in the world. Most islands have annual festivals where they stage parades, concerts, plays and pageants that almost always include dance displays, feasting and drinking.

The National Archaeological Museum in Athens notched up 27,510 visitors in June this year compared to 22,991 in June last year while the Acropolis Museum welcomes 156,722 visitors in June compared to 137,411 last year.

Visitors to Greece and the Greek islands can witness historic sites while bathed in the light of a full August moon in an event that has become a major date in the Geek tourism calendar. This year's moonlight event is on August 29th.

Loud music, beach parties and other all-night revelries are banned from Greece's beaches and public places and local police told to stop any events from being organised. The news will come as a blow to many of the more popular Greek island holiday destinations.

Greek tax officials and tourism organisations are concerned that some owners have not registered their rooms and escape paying VAT on holiday accommodation. Experts claim that around 40% of the holiday accommodation on offer across the Greek islands is through casual room lets.

In a letter to UNESCO officials the director of the British Museum has said the museum's the trustees had 'decided respectfully to decline this request' to mediate in talks over the possible return of the Parthenon Marbles to the Acropolis in Athens.

Easter celebrations form a big part of Greek Island culture and nowhere are traditional customs kept more alive than on the islands where it is a time to not only celebrate the Christian religion but also to welcome the spring.

Shipping one of the Parthenon Marbles to Russia triggered outrage in Greece. The British Museum has often claimed that the sculptures cannot be returned to Greece as they are too fragile to be moved anywhere.